A carer who stole £8,000 worth of jewellery from a vulnerable patient's home has been jailed for three years after hidden cameras caught her in the act.
Lara Jones, 50, from Mark Beech in Kent, was found guilty of burglary at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, October 9. She had pleaded not guilty ahead of her trial, despite police discovering the stolen jewellery when they searched her.
Family's suspicions led to hidden cameras
Jones was working as a carer for an elderly man at his home in Oxted. After she completed her first shift, the family noticed jewellery was missing from the home. They suspected the new carer but could not be sure, so they installed hidden cameras in the bedroom.
By November 26, 2025, the cameras captured Jones entering the bedroom to rifle through the room before finding and pocketing jewellery worth £8,000.
Arrest and trial
The victim's daughter called police on Wednesday, December 3, stating that her father was alone at home with his new carer, who they had seen on CCTV searching through the bedroom drawers and cupboards.
Officers attended and arrested Jones on suspicion of burglary. She was then searched and the jewellery was discovered. The case went to trial in August, where the jury returned guilty verdicts on three counts of burglary.
Sentencing and family reaction
Jones was sentenced to three years imprisonment and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.
Speaking following the sentencing, the family of the victim said: "Having someone violate your trust in your own home, at a time when you are at your most vulnerable, is devastating. The emotional impact has been profound, and it has made an already difficult situation even harder."
They added: "We are immensely grateful to Surrey Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their dedication, compassion and determination in securing this conviction. Their support throughout has meant a great deal to our family, and we are relieved that justice has been served."
Surrey Police's Detective Constable Jen Trudel, the officer in charge of the case, said: "The family were so disheartened that someone they let into their home to care for a loved one could be so heartless as to steal from them at the first opportunity."
She added: "This has made them wary of letting anyone into their home despite the much-needed respite required. It was an incredibly emotional moment for the family when the sentence was read out, and hopefully this will allow them some closure so that they can move on with their lives."
